Passengers face a summer of disruption as London Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations shut for 22 days from July 26 for a £20 million upgrade. The closure, which runs until August 16, will see no trains call at either station, with Southeastern services diverted to London Victoria, Cannon Street, Blackfriars and London Bridge.
Network Rail said the work, which includes installing 1.2 miles of new tracks and 16 sets of switches and crossings, is essential because the current rails – last replaced in the early 1990s – have become “increasingly unreliable” and would cause more faults and delays if left untreated. Engineers can only carry out the work when trains are not running.
“London Charing Cross and Waterloo East close July 26-August 16 for £20m upgrade, diverting trains.”
At Charing Cross, the concrete surfaces on the country end of platforms are deteriorating and will be rebuilt with new foundations and surfaces to “keep them safe” for passengers. At Waterloo East, track drainage will be upgraded. Structural repairs will also be carried out on Hungerford Bridge, which carries trains over the Thames, as well as the pedestrian link between Waterloo East and London Waterloo.
The two stations, while busy, are far smaller than London’s busiest. Charing Cross recorded 19.7 million journeys through its barriers in 2024/25, up from 17.7 million the previous year, while Waterloo East saw 6.8 million entries and exits. By comparison, London Liverpool Street handled 98 million journeys and Waterloo 70.4 million.
Network Rail warned that alternative service plans for weekend closures on either side of the main 22-day period may differ, and urged passengers to check before travelling. Southeastern said passengers should expect diversions, amended timings and cancellations, though additional trains will run on some lines.
The upgrade, carried out by Southeastern Railway, is timed over the summer holidays to minimise impact – but the three-week shutdown will still force thousands of commuters and tourists to find alternative routes through the capital.